1. Gothic Cathedrals

2. Introduction • The cathedral is the greatest achievement of medieval European architecture • The seat of the bishop and clergy • By tradition, a cathedral always faces west - toward the setting sun while congregants face east toward the rising sun - a symbol of Christ's ascension into heaven. • Conjures up images of extremely rich and finely decorative architecture: pillars, arches, stained-glass windows, rib vaults, exposed buttresses, pointed pinnacles and gables • Common motifs include the pointed arch, the rounded shaft, and tracery

3. Introduction • Represents a change from the massive stone-wall heaviness of the proceeding Romanesque style to a light, weightlessness that brought gazes heavenward to the divine light • Felt holy and magical (Romantic and transcendental) • Most began in France and then spread to England, Spain, and finally all of Central Europe

4. Architecture Terms • http://www.newyorkcarver.com/Glossary.htm • ambulatory - circular aisle which wraps around the (apse) aisles of the church • arch - the pointed arch is widely regarded as the main identifiable feature of Gothic architecture (distinct from the round arch of the Romanesque period). The most common Gothic arches are the Lancet, Equilateral and Ogee.

5. Architectural Terms • buttress - a mass of stone built up to support a wall, usually necessary to strengthen those of great height. • gable-is the triangle formed by a sloping roof. • pinnacle - a slender, pointed summit placed on top of buttresses, gables, etc. • tracery - ornamental stonework most often seen supporting window glass in the form of trifoils and cinquefoils. Sometimes used merely as decoration on panels and moldings and then called 'blind' tracery

6. Cathedral Layout

7. France • Notre Dame • Construction began 1163, completed in 1218 • Rouen • Inspired by Saint-Denis • Amiens • Rebuilt due to fires, part of the “classical” French cathedrals • Beauvais • The tallest cathedral in France

8. England • Westminster Abbey • London, England (William and Kate will be married here this month!) • Saint Paul’s • London, England (rebuilt after The Great Fire of London destroyed one of the originals.) • Salisbury • Salisbury, England (most unified of all England’s cathedrals, quick building time, early English style)

9. Others • Cologne • Cologne, Germany (the largest city in Germany in the middle ages) • Washington National • Washington D.C. (includes a carving of Darth Vader)

10. NOVA Cathedral Video • http://video.pbs.org/video/1619317222/